Special Day Hat

I made this hat for my friend, Nathalia, who just had a baby last week. She named her Sofia.

I got the pattern from my "Baby Beanies" book by Amanda Keeys. It was an easy pattern to follow, although making a ruffle brim does require you to cast on many more stitches (192 I think for this one) so it takes a little longer. This yarn has a nice sheen to it. It's a cashmere merino silk blend.

¿Mañana es Halloween?

This is a question that I start getting from students around the second week of September. "Tomorrow is Halloween?" This is when I really start teaching the concept of day, week, month so students understand that we have to get through all the days in September and then nearly all the days in October before it is Halloween.

Well, since it is nearly October (and I clearly am reminded by that fact everyday at work), here is my little pumpkin hat (on my nephew, Ryder)!! I love this pattern--it's another one by Susan B. Anderson.

Happy fall!

My hat model and a new knitter

We were in Minnesota visiting family this weekend, so I brought along a few of my hats to try on our nephew, Ryder. I've been making all these baby hats with no idea if they will really fit a 0-6 month old or a 6-12 month old. Ryder is about 5 and a half months, so he was a perfect baby hat model. :)

Love this star hat on him.

The sweet pea hat looked adorable, too!

Amber picked up how to knit really quickly and was ready to bind off her neckwarmer! Look how cute it turned out! Good job, Amber! We had fun knitting while the boys watched football.

P.S. I forgot to write about this--I visited a yarn outlet store in Edina!!! Who knew such a thing existed? Jim and Idona took me to this yarn shop in Edina called Needlework Unlimited. It was a huge store, and the staff was so friendly. As I was checking out, the cashier told me that they had an outlet store just a mile away where all the yarn was half off!! Jim took me there the next day and I got a few skeins. There was a ton to choose from--good brands, too! Next time I come in town I will have to bring a "shopping list!"

"Misti" sky

This scarf was a quick project to keep me entertained as I continue to work on Jim's cable scarf. His scarf is almost done, but because it's knit with skinny yarn on smaller needles, I get tired of it easily and need an instant gratification project like this one! The pattern is free--here it is! This Misti Baby Alpaca yarn does shed like crazy, but it is soft and pretty.

Yes, that is a winter coat over my pajamas. Who said it wasn't knitting season??

You're a Shining Star...

...no matter who you are. Shining bright to see--what you could truly be.

Front of hat:

Back of hat:


I think this hat came out super cute. It allowed me to try out a few new techniques. It was my first time making a "boxy" hat (no decreases to close this hat!). It was also the first time I made stars. I had to make each point separately, and then join the points together in a round to knit the center. Another new trick pictured are the french knots on the stars.

I wasn't sure about adding the stars at first--I thought it gave the hat a "homemade" kind of look, but my live-in project consultant loves it and thinks that the stars add to the charm. :)

I should be packing...

but here's another bear-y cute hat instead! Don't the two look cute together? I'm planning on bringing them up to MN to give to Jim's friend and his wife who just had their second son. Hope they like them! (I really need to start giving away more of my hats!)

Etc.

So...I have been knitting but I have no finished projects to show for it! I officially have several projects "on the needles." I'm almost done with my flower bag (just need to finish the embroidery and felt it), I started another beary cute baby hat, and I'm still working on Jim's cable scarf. It's coming out really nice.

Here are some other photos I've been meaning to post...

Amber took some photos of Ryder in the hat and booties I knit him. Isn't he a doll? He looks so adorable.

Several of my friends and family have been interested in learning to knit lately--it's fun to have more people to "talk shop" with! First Becky learned (and is knitting up a storm now! She's making really cute neckwarmers for all her friends. I've told her she should start a blog!). I taught Amber, Shara, and Billie this past weekend.

Who's next?